Rockaway Beach

If you don’t mind sharing-it’s not huge but is the largest municipal beach in the US-and have warm sand, an eclectic mix of friendly faces and cool surf on the brain, the unexpected Long Island refuge of Rockaway Beach is for you! Better-than-ever after Hurricane Sandy’s hair-bending visit, this unassuming 170 acre strip of clean, sunny sand, consequently NYC’s only surfing beach, attracts over one million locals and tourists a year, all in search of their own unique sun-and-surf experience. Known to some as the “Hipster Hamptons” and historically as the “Irish Riviera,” this family-friendly “sanctuary in the city,” peppered with the ubiquitous amenities and peopled with types looking for a little respite from the hustle and bustle of New York City and perhaps a connection with their inner naturalist, will afford your group a relaxing escape from the beaten tourist path. Swimming is permitted from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend; various concessions offer better-than-standard beach fare, refreshment and restrooms, and spray showers are available on the boardwalk!